Crimes Against Hispanics Go Unreported in Mid-City, Group Says

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Mid-City has one of the densest Hispanic populations in the city of New Orleans; and apparently thieves know it. Advocacy groups say Hispanics are being targeted for armed robbery; and many of the crimes are not being reported.

Staffers at Leticia’s Hair Salon didn’t want to speak on camera, but told us in no uncertain terms that the fear of being robbed is real.

“At all times now she has to keep the door locked because she’s had problem with people going in there in the middle of the day,” an unidentified neighbor said.

Crimes against Hispanics are on the rise in Mid-City everything from armed robberies to physical attacks.

Business owners say some of them have happened in the 4000 block of Tulane Avenue.

“I say it’s a shame.”

This man who describes himself as Hispanic doesn’t want to be identified.

He’s aware of the rise in crimes against Hispanics. He says construction workers and day laborers are often targeted in broad daylight.

“There’s such mistrust that they don’t believe that they are safe going and putting their money in a bank.”